Quebec Act 1774

The Quebec Act established the procedures of governance for the Province of Quebec. Great Britain acquired the territory from France under the 1763 Treaty of Paris. The Act defined the structure of the provincial government by creating a governor who was supported by a legislative council. No provision was made to establish an elected legislative assembly. The Act also preserved the seigneurial system of land tenure and French civil code, whilst English criminal code was introduced. The oath of allegiance was altered to omit reference to the Protestant faith and freedom to practice Catholicism was granted. This lifted a series of restrictions previously imposed on Catholic French Colonists.